HFPA on Ricky Gervais: 'Outrageous'; Gervais responds with 'everyone took it well'

Image Credit: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/AP ImagesAmid complaints (or should we say universal cheers?) about Ricky Gervais’ performance at the Golden Globes on Sunday, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association released this statement to EW: “We loved the show. It was a lot of fun and obviously has a lot of people talking. When you hire a comedian like Ricky Gervais, one expects in your face, sometimes outrageous material. Certainly, in this case, he pushed the envelope and occasionally went too far. The HFPA would never condone some of his personal remarks. Overall, however, the show was among the best we’ve ever had and we were pleased.”

Gervais, who helped the Globes win its timeslot in viewers and the key adult demographics, took no prisoners inside the Beverly Hilton. Even the HFPA wasn’t immune to his zingers, like this one: “I’d like to quash this ridiculous rumor going around that the only reason The Tourist was nominated was so the HFPA could hang out with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. That is rubbish. That is not the only reason. They also accepted bribes.” That line is what presumably prompted the HFPA president to shoot back, “Ricky, next time you want me to help you qualify your movies, go to another guy.”

NBC declined to comment, but Gervais issued his own statement (and took to his blog to discuss the matter as well):

“I did every single introduction I was meant to. There just happened to be a long gap. This is because I was allowed to choose who I would introduce in advance. I obviously chose presenters who I had the best jokes for. (And who I knew had a good sense of humour). Everyone took it well and the atmosphere backstage and at the after show was great.”

UPDATE: The comedian also discussed his hosting duties on his blog: “I enjoyed the Globes more this year. I think I had better gags. More along the lines of the Mel Gibson one last year. Obviously the rumour that the organizers stopped me going out on stage for an hour is rubbish. I did every link I was scheduled to do. The reason why the gaps were uneven is because when I got the rundown I was allowed to choose who I presented to. I obviously chose the spots that I had the best gags for. They couldn’t move around the order but I could move around however I wanted. All the same conspiracy theories as last year too… ‘So and so was offended‘… ‘hasn’t been invited back yet’… exactly the same as last time. ‘Paul McCartney was furious‘… no he wasn’t. And nor was Tim Allen and Tom Hanks. I was drinking with them after.”